Training protocol for driving power wheelchairs using virtual environment: preliminary results from a pilot study.

Purpose: Despite the advancements in power wheelchair simulators, there is still a lack of standardized tests to determine a user's readiness to drive in real-world environments. Currently, professionals rely on subjective evaluations such as intellectual capacity, visual impairments, and physical limitations to assess prospective power wheelchair users. In this study, we propose a training protocol that utilizes virtual environments to evaluate power wheelchair users' driving performance, aiming to enhance therapeutic practices and inform the decision-making process for power wheelchair prescription. Methods: Six participants with spinal cord injuries, aged between 18 and 90, were selected for this study. The proposed training protocol consisted of three stages: (A) A basic skills test in a real power wheelchair; (B) Training sessions in a virtual environment; (C) A post-training assessment of basic skills in the real power wheelchair. Throughout all stages, we collected skill evaluation metrics, including the number of collisions, joystick commands, and total time. Performance evaluation of participants was conducted using descriptive statistics and the Shapiro-Wilk test. Results: We observed a positive correlation between participants' age and the number of collisions during the evaluation process. Conclusion: Our proposed training protocol can serve as a complementary tool for power wheelchair prescription, facilitating better decision-making in rehabilitation centers. The use of virtual environments to assess driving performance shows promise in enhancing therapeutic practices and ensuring the safe and efficient use of power wheelchairs in real-world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]